James Gurney

This daily weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.

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or by email:gurneyjourney (at) gmail.comSorry, I can't give personal art advice or portfolio reviews. If you can, it's best to ask art questions in the blog comments.

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However, you can quote images or text without asking permission on your educational or non-commercial blog, website, or Facebook page as long as you give me credit and provide a link back. Students and teachers can also quote images or text for their non-commercial school activity. It's also OK to do an artistic copy of my paintings as a study exercise without asking permission.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Two days ago I climbed to the top of the rock of Gibraltar to observe the wild Barbary apes in their natural habitat. They're really tail-less macaques, the only wild monkeys in all of Europe, and they're known for stealing food from tourists.

I followed a narrow trail near the summit and found myself surrounded by a small group. They were busily chattering, nibbling on fruit, and grooming each other. I pulled out my sketchbook and started drawing them. They're awfully shy about eye contact, so I used the sidelong glance technique that had worked earlier with gorillas (see previous post).

One of the juveniles perched behind me, watching over my shoulder, commenting on my technique to his compatriots. All of the sudden he leaped onto my shoulder. I held my breath. He watched every move of my hands, and then started grooming my neck and reaching down my shirt with his little cold fingers.

He dug into my pockets and found a couple pieces of a cracker. Then his friends came over. The guy on my shoulder must have wanted to mark me as his own, because he sent a little jet of pee down my neck.

When they realized I didn't have any more food they scampered off and left me with their memorable aroma.

I'm with the other commenters - keep the beard, it gives you a proper rustic "artist" look.

At least the monkeys didn't pee on the art itself. Or would that be such a bad thing? You make a mark, they make a mark, it's so delightfully primal. And you could pull out the stained sketches at parties! Or maybe not. See, this is why I don't host parties...

(I am reminded of Dr. Stephen Maturin climbing Gibraltar in Patrick O'Brian's books. I'll have to thumb back through the books to find that scene, and see if monkeys were mentioned.)

Thanks, everybody, for your encouragement about the beard....but old habits die hard.

Rachael, I didn't have much time there, so I didn't get into the British caves, but I did hike the Mediterranean Steps down the sheer east face of the rock and saw some of the Neolithic caves, including some of the last strongholds where the Neanderthals held out against the H. sapiens.